Salama and happy World Mangrove Day. You know, Madagascar is blessed with an incredible amount of mangroves – In fact, it’s the fourth largest in the world! But we’ve got to take care of them. And that’s why World Mangrove Day is so important - to raise awareness about all the benefits mangroves provide to us. For example, - They provide a habitat for fish, crabs, and birds to reproduce and grow – and those adult fish and crabs supply Madagascar’s fishing industry; - They provide fuelwood and building materials for coastal communities; - They protect the coastline from erosion and flooding during storms; - And they help regulate the climate and protect us from global warming by storing huge amounts of carbon Through our two main activities, Hay Tao and Mikajy, USAID is supporting the Government of Madagascar to protect and restore mangrove forests. We’re helping the government develop a national mangrove strategy. We’re partnering with local communities to secure their futures, including sustainably managing fisheries in mangroves and reforesting mangrove sites. And they’re doing great work. Since 2019, 37 hectares - that’s like 52 full-sized football fields - have been restored. So from us to you, thank you for your support of Madagascar’s environment -- and Happy World Mangrove Day! Mankasitraka.